In brief
Two British historians have confirmed that a manuscript held by Harvard Law School, purchased for just $27 after World War II, is actually one of the seven surviving originals of the Magna Carta, a milestone in the establishment of legal rights. This discovery comes amidst growing pressures on Harvard from the political climate in the US.
A seemingly innocuous manuscript, previously regarded as a mere copy of the Magna Carta, has recently been identified as an original document dating back to 1300, significantly raising its historical importance. Acquired for $27.50 in the aftermath of World War II, the document had lingered in the Harvard Law School library since 1946 without drawing much attention.The groundbreaking realization was made by two British academics, including David Carpenter, a medieval history professor at King’s College London, who stumbled upon the manuscript in December 2023. "I never in all my life expected to discover a Magna Carta," Carpenter shared, reflecting on the moment of revelation.Despite its humble acquisition price—equating to about $500 today—the manuscript stands as a significant artifact in the history of legal rights, being one of only seven originals from its time still in existence. For context, a similar version sold for an astonishing $21.3 million in 2007, highlighting how undervalued this piece had been.To authenticate the discovery, experts utilized advanced imaging techniques, including ultraviolet light photography and spectral imaging, allowing them to reveal details imperceptible to the naked eye. Nicholas Vincent, a colleague of Carpenter at the University of East Anglia, also played a vital role in confirming the manuscript's authenticity.As Harvard grapples with mounting scrutiny from the Trump administration, this unexpected find adds a new layer of significance to the institution’s collections, bringing both historical and contemporary implications to light.
